FASHION FORMULA
Inside Victoria Beckham’s 7 style secrets as she reveals her worst fashion mistakes including clanger with David
Despite admitting she cringes at some of her Nineties and Noughties fashion choices, Posh has always been a style icon
VICTORIA Beckham is proof that style, like wisdom, only gets better with age.
As she turns 50 next week, the Spice Girls singer, turned fashion designer, has finally found a winning formula for the latter.
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But it has not always been smooth sailing for Posh Spice, with one of the most talked about wardrobes in the world.
She once admitted her Nineties outfits should have got her arrested by the fashion police.
As the Spice Girls broke on to the music scene in 1996, Victoria had one mission — to become famous.
Tottering on stage in black high heels and little black dresses became her signature look.
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In the group’s 1997 film Spice World it even became a gag that she would either wear “the little Gucci dress, the little Gucci dress or the little Gucci dress”.
In the late Nineties and early Noughties, alongside her footballer husband David, Posh and Becks’ fashion choices were sometimes regarded as comical.
Their matching purple wedding reception outfits in 1999, and his-and-hers head-to-toe leather at a party the same year, made them a laughing stock in the snooty fashion world.
‘Just so wrong’
Vic later admitted of the pair’s leather ensemble: “I will never, ever, ever, ever be allowed to forget that look.
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“The irony is that we wore full-on leather Gucci . . . to a Versace event for Donatella. Which in itself was just so wrong.”
Reflecting on the coordinating trainers and tracksuit bottoms they wore when out walking their Rottweilers once, she added: “If I dressed like that now I’d be locked away by the fashion police.”
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Posh’s brief solo singing career, with a self-titled album in 2001, led to a change of style.
Her slashed key-hole tops, bandannas and lip ring were headline news.
The mid-Noughties saw Wag culture reach its peak, delivering some of the worst fashion clangers — and Victoria led the way with her heavy fake tan, hair extensions and vests, while the likes of Cheryl Tweedy and Coleen Rooney emulated her look.
Things changed again when the Beckhams moved Stateside in 2007 as former Manchester United and England golden boy David joined US club LA Galaxy.
[Victoria’s] a designer but for us she doesn’t make clothes the same way like a fashion designer
Dolce & Gabbana
Posh bleached her hair, had it cut into a pixie crop and began a love affair with brightly coloured bodycon frocks which she usually paired with matching Hermes Birkin bags and sky-high Christian Louboutin heels.
In 2008, Victoria launched her own fashion label, which at first sold only low-waisted, second-skin jeans and oversized sunglasses.
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Italian design duo Dolce & Gabbana gave a scathing review, saying: “She’s a designer but for us she doesn’t make clothes the same way like a fashion designer.”
And even though she had bagged her first British Vogue magazine cover that same year, key figures in the industry were sceptical and had very little respect for her, even snubbing her fashion shows.
But Posh managed to turn things around by 2011.
Not only did she appear in campaigns for designers Marc Jacobs and Armani, she switched back to brunette and developed a more prim and personal style.
And it was not long before Vogue editor Anna Wintour and other industry giants squeezed into the front row of her packed-out shows.
Her bright-orange, hot-pink and blue dresses were worn by other fashion stars including American influencer Olivia Palermo and US actress pal Eva Longoria, and dupes of her designs began cropping up on the high street.
I’ve learnt a lot in the last seven years. I’ve learnt a lot very, very quickly. And I continue to learn
Victoria Beckham
Then, the unthinkable happened — Posh wore trousers and trainers.
After a decade in high heels, she realised trainers, which were being worn by her fashion-forward peers, could be stylish, sexy and cool.
It prompted a collaboration with Reebok in 2018 and even saw her wear tracksuit bottoms.
More comfortable with making her own style choices and wearing comfier shoes, Victoria became sleek, sophisticated — and a respected designer.
She said: “I’ve learnt a lot in the last seven years. I’ve learnt a lot very, very quickly. And I continue to learn.”
Now, she aims to have fun with fashion and even pokes fun at herself with slogan T-shirts.
Last year it was announced that after years of huge losses, her label had become profitable, with revenue soaring 44 per cent to £58.8million.
Victoria nails the hugely popular trend of “quiet luxury” — the opposite of her mid-Noughties look.
She can now boast a series of fashion awards including Brand of the Year at the British Fashion Awards in 2014, and Fashion Gamechanger at the Glamour Awards in 2021.
In 2017, she even bagged an OBE for services to the fashion industry.
But her look is not unattainable despite both the high praise and price tags.
Here, we reveal the secrets that are key to Posh’s style success . . .
1. COLOUR TO LOOK YOUNGER
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In the past few years, Victoria has embraced clashing colours such as icy-blue and bright-red which cleverly gets her noticed.
Before, Posh and her LBD appeared very “fashiony”.
But she has realised that it doesn’t give her clothing brand, or herself, the attention it needs to rack up profits.
Plus, injecting colour into your day-to-day wardrobe is key as you get older because strong hues bounce off your skin, giving a brighter, more youthful appearance.
2. MINIMAL ACCESSORIES
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Another of her style secrets is her clever use of accessories. Victoria’s rule is to keep hers simple and to a minimum.
That does not mean they should be boring.
She uses bags, shoes, sunglasses or jewellery to pack a punch — in both size or colour.
But they are often sleek and minimalist in design, giving them an expensive and timeless appearance.
Understated accessories from her own brand make her outfits and keep the focus on her.
3. KEEP IT CLASSIC, NOT BASIC
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Posh will look to classic silhouettes such as black dresses, tailored blazers or pleated skirts, but she elevates them by going for a different texture such as leather or a ribbed knit.
She incorporates these traditional classics into a modern trend such as a coloured check or hot boot shape.
For example, she will often wear a crisp white shirt with pocket detailing on the chest and pair it with a pleated skirt, but the midi will be in a modern colour or texture such as velvet.
4. LOW RISE TO CREATE HIPS
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Victoria champions pleated skirts but will wear hers low-slung, which adds dimension to her hips making them look curvier.
While we rely on a high-waisted trouser or skirt to give us a cinched-in middle, Posh chooses a loose fit and low-slung bottom.
Not only does this give her a more elevated but relaxed look but, because she has an athletic body shape without a curve in her hips, she creates the illusion of having a more defined silhouette.
5. GET TAILORING
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To make sure her figure is shown off to its best, Posh has her clothes tailored.
Even the oversized looks have been altered to have the desired fit and to make her look super-polished.
Luckily for Victoria, she has an army of seamstresses.
But if you are no whiz with a needle and thread, use double-sided sticky tape, or boob-tape, to give too-wide trousers the pinch.
Or try safety pins on the insides of clothes to make them more fitted.
6. BALANCE PROPORTIONS
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Play with your proportions to get the Victoria look.
We often see the Spice Girl in wide-leg trousers with a tight knitted top or an oversized blazer with leggings to balance the volume of pieces.
Tops that end at her hips are met by low-rise waist bands, resulting in a longer and leaner-looking figure — Posh is only 5ft 4in but you would not know from looking at her with this trick.
7. LESS FLESH, MORE CONFIDENCE
Gone are the days of her boobs pushed up out of a bodycon dress.
Being comfortable with who you are and how you look equals sex appeal — even when clothes are loose.
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You can still show off your figure in a subtle way.
When Victoria wears baggy clothes she will often ensure a point in her body is shown off, from her super-toned arms in an oversized T-shirt and jeans, to her waistline accentuated by a belt.